Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock paid tribute to Shane Drahm after the fly-half kicked Worcester to a 22-15 win at Sale.
Drahm the Worcester hero as Sale slip up on home soil
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock paid tribute to Shane Drahm after the fly-half kicked Worcester to an unexpected 22-15 win at Sale.
Drahm, who is to join Japanese side Kubota Spears at the end of the season, was only recalled from a short-term loan spell at League One Launceston last weekend after an injury laid Loki Crichton low.
However, he outshone opposite number Charlie Hodgson as the Warriors grabbed a victory - only their second of the Guinness Premiership season - that puts real daylight between themselves and basement boys Leeds.
"Shane Drahm was fantastic for us - he deserves a lot of credit," said Ruddock. "He kicked everything that moved and kept us ahead - he was the difference.
"I'm very pleased - I said it would take a big effort and we certainly produced that.
"We talked about playing with the spirit of underdogs but the performance of champions and our try was a real champion's effort.
"It was well worked, well executed and in the end proved to be enough.
"Our discipline was much better and that ultimately gave us the result. It was a very good Sale team who had to chase the game and we forced them into errors.
"We didn't give away as many penalties as we had done previously and that was a massive improvement for us."
By losing, Sale spurned the chance to climb above Bath and Leicester and into second in the table.
Saint Andre disappointed
Sharks director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre was critical of his side's lacklustre showing and admitted they had to put it right against Saracens next week to maintain their top-four ambitions.
"I think the Premiership is a tough competition," stated Saint Andre. "There are no easy games in this competition.
"The conditions were very difficult and Worcester were very clinical while we made a lot of mistakes.
"We need to put these things right next week and we need some points against Saracens.
"We just made too many mistakes and dropped the ball 10-12 times - conditions were very difficult for the backs. We were in control but we were penalised a lot more times than Worcester."
